Strip stock for timber reinforcing irons



Nov. 3, 1942. R. E. BEEGLE 2,300,767

' STRIP STOCK FORl TIMBER REINFORCING-IRONS Filed May 10, 1941 Z7 FIG.. 2?@ L5 ZZ? 'www y /y/l) /fFlGii INVENTOR Patented Nov. 3, 1942 er OFFICE.

Raymond E. Beegle, East St. Louis, Ill.

Application May 10, 1941; Serial No. 392,907

14 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates generally to reinforcing or anchor irons for preventing checking and splitting of railway cross ties or other timber exposed to the weather and subject to spike "splitting, Vertical checking and season checks. More particularly, the present invention concerns the provision of preformed metallic strip stock which may be readily cut into suitable lengths to provide anchor irons for the purpose indicated.

A principal object of the invention therefore, resides in the provision of sheet metal stock in ribbcn or strip form, which is shaped uniformly throughout its length such as to have the same predetermined sectional configuration in any transverse sec-tion thereof, whereby to provide preformed stri-p stock for cutting into sections of any desired length, to obtain anchor irons which have functional characteristics determined in great part, by the formation of the strip stock.

Among other objects of the invention maybe noted the provision of pre-formed strip material of the character and for the purpose indicated, which may be formed in substantial length and thereafter readily coiled u-pon itself, with the successive layers closely engaged or nested, whereby the stock may .be thus confined toaminimum space, as for storage or shipping purposes. Moreover, the preformed strip stock according to the present invention, is of such form in transverse section, that each layer in the strip as coiled, will cooperate with next adjacent layers in a manner to `effect a uniform overlying registry of the layers, whereby there results a desirable selfcenteringand assembly interlock of the several layers in the coil band.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the drawing and the following description of the several preferred embodiments illustrated.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a sectional elevation as taken transversely through -s-trip stock formed according to the invention, the view illustrating a preferred sectional configuration Icharacterizing the stock; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through engaging layers in a coiled band of the material having the sectional character shown in Fig. l, the view showing the nesting, self-centering, and interlock features of the material as coiled; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through one end portion of a railway cross tie or like timber, showing in transverse section, an iron formed from stock of the sectional character shown by Fig. 1, as embedded in the tie end; iFig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation similar to that of Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification Ain the l season checks usually encountered in such timber, the view further illustrating the application to the timber end, of an anchor iron which may be'obtained from any one of the several embodiments of pre-formed iron stock herein disclosed;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation in transverse section, through strip stock of va further modified character, and Fig. 1'1 is an elevation in plan of a portionthereof. w

The strip stock according to the invention, may

be obtained from suitable gauge, sheet metal by cutting the same into strips of desired width and length, and then shaping each strip preferably whilein a heated condition, by suitable metal stam-ping or pressing operations. 'Ihe resulting 0 strip provides pre-'formed strip stock for the purpose described, and is characterized by a predetermined surface configuration or surface contour the nature of which clearly appears in a transverse sectional view of the stri-p. In the princi- V0 pal embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, the strip outline' in transverse section is uniformly the same in any such section throughout the strip length, while in a modified form of the stock, a considerable ydeparture is made -5 from lsuch uniformity, as this will appear hereinafter.

Referring now to the drawing lby appropriate characters of reference, one embodiment of the invention i's shown by the transverse sectional 40 View of Fig. l. The strip stock indicated generally by the numeral IIJ, as preformed and ready for cutting into lengths to form anchor irons, has one longitudinal marginal portion ll suitably reduced or doubly bevelled to provide a wedge- 15 like or tapered end having a rela-tively sharp edge I2. The wedge-end and knife-like edge I2 extend continuously over the length of the strip, and provide in 'anchor' irons cut from the stock, the timber entering end thereof. The opposite longitudinal margin of the strip presents a relatively at end surface or head I4 which provides the driving head for irons cut from the stock.

The body 't5 of the strip stock is laterally offset in a zone |=6 thereof, inwardly of the head end I4, and is similarly laterally offset in a second zone' I8 inwardly of the knife-edge I2, both offset portions extending longitudinally throughout the strip and each paralleling the other and the lon- -gitudinal margins I2 and I4 of the strip. By preference, the offset portions are substantially identical in form, and may be provided 4by pressing the body metal in the zones I3 and I8, outwardly of the strip plane and preferably in the same direction, as indicated, to a degree such as to effect relatively shallow V-shaped -body elements I9. Each of the offset elements I9 thus provides a shallow, V-shaped shouldered recess or channel 20 in the face 22 of the strip, and a V-shaped shouldered raised portion or rib 23 on the opposite strip `face 24. According to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the metal gauge or thickness of the strip body, is substantially retained in the offset elements I9.

The strip stock as formed, may be readily coiled upon itself, in a coil band of a diameter depending upon the gauge and degree of flexibility of the metal employed. Such coiling of the stock thus permits its confinement to -a minimum space, to facilitate storage or shipping thereof, and moreover, the stock in a `coiled condition, may be more readily and easily handled, as will be appreciated.

Fig. 2 illustrates by a transverse section through a part of the coil band resulting from coiling the stock, the relative positions assumed by the several layers. By reason of the predetermined formation of the strip, as such appears in transverse section, the shallow, V-shaped body elements I9 in the adjacent layers, readily engage in nested relation, and further, these elements coact as the strip is Wound or coiled, to center and align the successive layers. Moreover, the elements IS in engagement, effectively retain or interlock the layers in nested registry. According to the present embodiment of the strip stock, it will be observed that apart from the body elements I9, the planar portions of the strip layers in the coil, do not engage in surface contact. The clearance in these Zones, as indicated at 26, is of relatively slight degree, however, and results from the retention of the original metal gauge or thickness in the offset elements I9 as such are formed.

It is to be noted as an important feature of the invention, that no additional metal material other than that contained in the original strip prior to its shaping, is employed in obtaining the finished, pre-formed stock. Furthermore, it will now appear that the shaping of the strip material for effecting the present improvements, may be readily and cheaply accomplished by a relatively simple metal pressing operation to obtain the body elements I9, and by an equally simple shaping or bevelling operation to obtain the knife-edge I2. Thus the strip stock providing the pre-formed source material for anchor irons, may be easily and economically produced, and further, by the provision of such stock, the ultimate unit cost of the irons cut therefrom, is materially reduced. The foregoing applies not only to the embodiment of Fig. l, but to each of the other embodiments disclosed herein,

Fig. 3 illustrates in longitudinal section, one end portion of a railway cross tie or other similar timber, having embedded therein a reinforcing iron formed from the stock material as shown by Fig. l. The iron here referred to generally by the reference numeral 21, appears in transverse section only, but it is to be understood that the iron as obtained by cutting a suitable section from the strip stock, may be given any desired shape in its longitudinal extent, as for example, the generally C-shape of the iron 28 shown in longitudinal elevation in Fig. 9. Apart from the functional characteristics of the iron resulting from its longitudinal shape, its holding power in preventing splitting and checking of the timber, and its self-retention in the embedded position thereof in such timber, are determined in material degree, by the predetermined shape of the pre-formed stock from which the iron is taken. As appears in Fig. 3, the offset elements I9 effectively anchor the iron in place, and cooperate to prevent the iron from working or riding out of the timber end. This results from the fact that the wood fibres adjacent the embedded iron, tend to fill-in the channels 20, and more particularly, to bear against the lower or inner portion or shoulder 29 of each channel, while on the opposite side of the iron, the adjacent bres tend to engage in particular, the outer shoulder 30 of each rib 23.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown by Fig. 4, wherein the preformed strip stock 3| as it appears in transverse section, is characterized by offset body elements 32 similar in shape to the described elements I9 of the stock according to Fig. 1, and each similarly defining a rib 33 and recess or channel 34. The elements 32 differ from the elements I9, however, in that the metal gauge or thickness thereof is reduced to a predetermined degree, preferably such that the thickness of these elements as measured in a plane normal to the plane of the strip body, is substantially equal to the original gauge of the strip material, or to the gauge as obtains for the planar portions of the body. As a result, the band layers in the strip stock as coiled upon itself, readily engage or nest in surface contact not only in the zones of the offset elements 32, but also in the zones of the planar portions. Such nesting and layer interlocking engagement are shown in the sectional view of Fig. 5, being a sectional elevation as taken transversely through adjacent layers in the coiled band. While the strip stock 3I of Fig. 4 may be given the double bevel, knife-edge margin I I as obtains in the embodiment of Fig. 1, it is preferred to form the longitudinal margin 35 thereof with but a single bevel 36, to provide the knife-edge 31 offset from the medial plane of the strip body, and located by preference, substantially in the plane of the strip side face 38 having thereon the projecting rib elements 33 of the body portions 32.

An iron formed from the strip stock of Fig. 4 and longitudinally shaped in any desired form, as the generally C shape of the iron 28 shown in Fig. 9, is shown in transverse section in Fig. 6, as embedded in the end of a railway cross tie or like timber. This view corresponds to that of Fig. 3J and illustrates the holding and selfretaining characteristics of the iron when fully positioned in the timber, these characteristics being substantially the same as heretofore described in connection with the iron of Fig. 3. An additional feature, however, obtains in the modified iron of Fig. 6, in that by reason of the offset singly bevelled edge 35, this edge tends to curl or turn outwardly during the driving of the iron. While occurring only to a relatively small degree, as indicated in Fig. 6, the out-turned edge resulting upon complete embedment of the iron in the timber, functions to augment the action of the elements 32 in holding or anchoring the iron in the timber.

ber, as this will now appear.

A further modified form of strip ,stock is illustrated by Fig. 7. In this example ofmy invention, the strip between its longitudinal driving head 39 and the double bevel end 40 providing the knife-edge 4I, is formed to provide inwardly of the head end 39, longitudinal ribs 42 and 43 on opposite sides of the body 44, which ribs are by preference relatively staggered, as shown. The rib 42 is cut-standing on the side face 46 of the strip, and provides a relatively sharply sloped shoulder 41 facing the head 39, and an opposite, relatively gradually sloped shoulder 48, The rib 43 on the other hand, does not project above the plane of the opposite side face 5D, but provides a relatively abrupt shoulder 5I in an inwardly sloping channel 52 formed in the strip body 44.

Similar ribs 54 and 55 are arranged in relatively staggered relation, inwardly of the tip end 40, these ribs, however, being reversed in position on the opposite faces of the body 44, relative to the ribs 42 and 43. As a result, the rib 54 is out-standing on the side face 50, and provides a relatively abrupt shoulder 56, and a sloping shoulder 51 which by preference, is merged into the adjacent bevelled surface of the tip 40. The opposite rib 55 appears as a shoulder 58 at the lower end of a sloping recess 59 in the side face 45, and is similar to the rib 43.

The nesting and self-centering characteristics of the modified strip stock as coiled, clearly appear in Fig. 1, and although the adjacent layers do not engage and nest to the degree obtaining in the coiled bands of the iron stock of either Fig. 1 or Fig. 4, these layers nevertheless will remain in registry in the band. Moreover, an iron formed from the stock of Fig. 7 and embedded in timber, will function in respect to holding power and self-retention in the timber, to a degree quite similar to that obtaining in irons provided from stock of the character shown by Figs. 1 and 4. For example, when the iron is embedded in timber, the timber bres adjacent each of the ribs 42 and 54, will tend to engage the rib shoulders 41 and 55 respectively, while the fibres adjacent the ribs 43 and 55, will tend in a similar manner, to engage the abrupt shoulders 5I and 58 thereof, respectively, thereby effectively locking the 'iron in place.

Pre-formed strip stock according to the further modied embodiment as shown in Fig. 8, provides a longitudinally extending offset body element 68 located substantially midway between the strip head 52 and the Zone 63 at the juncture of the strip body 54 and the tapered entering end 66. The body element 55 may be in all respects, substantially like the element i9 in the embodiment of Fig. 1, or the similar element 32 in the modification of Fig. 4. The end portion 56 in the present example, presents a doubly bevelled end, terminating in the knife-like edge E1, but differs from the doubly bevelled end Il of the stock according to Fig. l, in that this end portion is more gradually bevelled and is turned slightly outwardly of the medial plane of the 5' stock. Moreover the end 66 by preference, is turned outwardly substantially to the degree indicated, and toward the side 63 of the body on which appears the raised portion or rib 1U of the element E0. By so turning the entering end of the stock, the driving characteristic of an iron cut from this material, is considerably improved. Further, the slightly turned end assists in locking the iron in its fully embedded position in tim- The nesting and ffl layer interlocking properties of the modified stock Yare believed to be readily apparent from the transverse sectional View of Fig. 8,.as considered in connection with the views of Figs. 2 and 5.

A still further modification of the present invention is illustrated by Figs. 10 and l1, and presents pre-formed strip stock which'diifers considerably in its structural formation, from any of the embodiments heretofore described. The strip material as shown, provides a driving head 1I along one longitudinal margin, and has its opposite longitudinal end doubly bevelled, as indicated, to provide the sharp, knife-like edge 12.A

Formed in suitably spaced relation along the strip length, and substantially intermediate theopposite longitudinal ends 1i and 12, area plurality of similar lateral projections 14, all by preference, appearing on one side face 15 of the strip body 16. In the plan elevation of a portion of the strip stock, as shown by Fig. 11, each of these projections is substantially diamond-shape at its base 18, and as clearly indicated in both figures, provides a projection of pyramidal form, terminating in a central apex 13. Each projection 14 having a diamond configuration at its base 18, therefore defines an elongate element whichl is arranged relative to the body 15, such that its major dimension is directed longitudinally of the body, as appears in Fig. l1. rIhese projections may be formed by pressing out the metal of the strip body, and hence no additional metal is needed in their formation. As appears in Fig. l0, each ofthe projections 14 when formed in the manner indicated, defines in the opposite side face El] of the strip body, a depression or recess 82 having a surface formation corresponding Yto' the surfacel of the projection, and consequently, having its major dimension directed longitudinally of the strip body.

In an iron cut from the stock thus formed, and embedded in timber, the projections and corresponding recesses function in conjunction with adjacent timber fibres, to lock the iron in place, against both endwise displacement and retractive or riding-out movement thereof. This obtains from the tendency of the timber fibres displaced during driving-in of the iron, to engage each of the projections 14 and seat in each recess 82. In holding the iron in the timber, these iibres tend to bear more particularly, against the lower an-l gulate shoulder 83 of each recess, and on the opposite side of the iron, to engage in particular,

the angulate shoulder 84 of each projection 14.

It will now appear'thatstrip stock formed ac- Y; cording to the present invention provides in any one of the several preferred embodiments illustrated, preformed strip material which may be readily cut into suitable lengths to form timber reinforcing irons. Moreover, the functional characteristics of the irons thus obtained, are determined in great measure, by the character of the preformed stock, as this has been heretofore f fully described.

Other modifications of my invention, as well as alterations in the form of the embodiments herein illustrated, may be readily made without departing from the spirit and intended scope of my invention, as denned by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A metallic strip member of the character described, providing pre-formed stock for timber reinforcing irons, said member comprising a strip of sheet metal of uniform gauge having a head along one longitudinal margin and a reduced edge along the other longitudinal margin, and

said strip being deformed by lateral displacement of a portion thereof intermediate said head and reduced edge, to provide elongate inset and outset shoulders on opposite sides of the strip.

2. A metallic strip member of the character described, providing pre-formed stock for timber reinforcing irons, said member comprising a strip of sheet metal of uniform gauge having a head along one longitudinal margin and a reduced edge along the other longitudinal margin, and said strip being formed by lateral displacement of a portion thereof intermediate said head and reduced edge, to provide an integral, elongate projection on one side thereof, having its major dimension directed substantially longitudinally of the strip, said projection forming an elongate shouldered recess in the opposite side of said strip, having its major dimension directed substantially longitudinally of the strip.

3. A metallic strip member of the character described, providing pre-formed stock for timber reinforcing irons, said member comprising a strip of sheet metal of uniform gauge having a head along one longitudinal margin and a reduced edge along the other longitudinal margin, and said strip being formed by lateral displacement of a portion thereof intermediate said head and reduced edge, to provide a projection on one side and a shouldered recess in the other side of the strip, each having its major dimension directed substantially longitudinally of the strip, said projection and shouldered recess being arranged in substantial registry on the opposite sides of said strip.

4. A metallic member of the character described, providing pre-formed stock for timber reinforcing irons, said member comprising a strip of sheet metal of uniform gauge having a substantially fiat head along one longitudinal end and a bevelled edge along the other longitudinal end, and said strip being formed by lateral displacement of spaced portions thereof intermediate said head and bevelled edge, to provide laterally offset elements extending longitudinally of the strip and each characterized by a substantially shallow V-shape in transverse section and a uniform thickness equivalent to the gauge of the strip, each of said elements thereby defining an outset shoulder on one side of the strip and a substantially corresponding inset shoulder in the opposite side of the strip.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising a strip body of substantial length and uniform gauge, having nel in the opposite side of the strip body.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising -a strip body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal end and a reduced edge along the other longitudinal end, said body further having outstanding ribs thereon extending in substantial parallelism lengthwise of the strip, and relatively shallow V-shaped channels therein substantially coextensive with said ribs.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising a substantially planar body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal end and a bevelled edge along the other longitudinal end, said body being deformed to provide a laterally offset body portion of shallow V-shape in transverse section, extending longitudinally of the body, said offset portion defining a rib on one side and a shallow, V-shape channel in the other side of the body.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising a strip body of substantial length and predetermined thickness, having a head along one longitudinal margin and a reduced edge along the other longitudinal margin, said body being deformed longitudinally thereof, to provide an offset body portion having a thickness substantially corresponding to that of the body, said portion defining a rib on one side of the body and a relatively shallow V-shape channel in the opposite side thereof.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising a strip body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal margin and a bevelled edge along the other longitudinal margin, said body intermediate said head and bevelled edge, being deformed longitudinally thereof, to provide outstanding ribs on opposite sides of the body and shouldered channels in opposite sides of the body.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising a strip body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal margin and a bevelled edge along the other longitudinal margin, said body being deformed by lateral displacement of a portion thereof intermediate said head and bevelled edge, to provide an outstanding rib extending longitudinally of the body and having a relatively abrupt shoulder along one side thereof, and a recess defining a relatively abrupt shoulder inset in one side of the body and substantially coextensive with said rib.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising a strip body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal margin and a bevelled edge along the other longitudinal margin, said body being deformed by opposite lateral displacement of spaced portions thereof intermediate said head and bevelled edge, to provide on each side of the body, an outstanding rib extending longitudinally of the body and a shoulder-forming recess substantially coextensive with the rib.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member of the character and for the purpose described, comprising a strip body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal margin and a reduced edge along the opposite longitudinal margin, said body intermediate said head and reduced edge, being deformed in spaced zones longitudinally thereof, to provide a plurality of projections on the body, and a plurality of recesses therein.

13. As an article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member providing pre-formed stock for timber reinforcing irons and adapted for coiling in a layered band to facilitate its packaging and handling, said member comprising a strip body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal margin and a reduced edge along the opposite longitudinal margin, the body being deformed to provide a laterally offset body portion extending longitudinally of the body, said oiiset portion deiining a rib on one side and a corresponding channel in the opposite side of the body, whereby upon coiling the strip member, the successive layers in the coiled band thereof, Will nest with a rib on one layer seating in the channel in the next succesive layer.

14. As an article of manufacture, a sheet metal strip member providing pre-formed stock for timber reinforcing irons and adapted for coiling in a layered band to facilitate its packaging and handling, said member comprising a strip body of substantial length, having a head along one longitudinal margin and a reduced edge along the other longitudinal margin, the body being deformed to provide a laterally offset body portion extending longitudinally of the body, said offset portion defining a shouldered rib on one side and a corresponding internally shouldered channel in the opposite side of the body, whereby upon coiling the strip member, the successive layers in the coiled band thereof, will lie in relatively close adjacence With a shouldered rib on one layer seating in the shouldered channel in the next successive layer.

RAYMOND E. BEEGLE. 

